Grenade attack hurts Iraq ex-minister: Police

Kirkuk: A grenade lobbed at her car in
northern Iraq wounded former housing minister Bayane Dezehi
on Tuesday, a police official said.

"The car caught fire and she and her driver were
both wounded," he said, adding that the attack happened the
city of Tuz Khurmatu in northern in northern Kirkuk province.

Dezehi was a minister in Prime Minister Nuri
al-Maliki`s previous government in 2006-2010, and belongs to
President Jalal Talabani`s Patriotic Union of Kurdistan party.

Though still dramatically less than the peak years
of 2006 and 2007, violence has been surging in Iraq over the
past few months, with attacks especially targetting the
security forces, as well as government officials and
institutions.